The University of Washington has several resources to assist faculty, staff and students overseas on university-related business or study abroad programs in case of an international emergency. The efforts are coordinated across all three campuses by the International Travel & Security Manager in the Global Affairs Office.

UW Travel Registry

Prior to departure, travelers should sign up with the UW Travel Registry. This step is typically built into the planning process for university-affiliated programs; individual travelers or study trip organizers should send the NetID, country, and dates of travel for all travelers to Pascal Schuback, UW's International Travel & Security Manager, to schuback@uw.edu.

The registry allows the University to identify and help travelers in an emergency, including notification about travel alerts and where to take shelter during a disaster. During the Japan earthquake, for example, the registry allowed the University to identify 30 students and four faculty.

UW International Emergency Phone Line
+1.206.632.0153

The UW Police Department (UWPD) operates an International Emergency Phone Line 24 hours a day/7 days a week. An emergency is any situation which poses an immediate or potential risk to the safety, security, or health of UW students, faculty or staff abroad.

Before calling the UW hotline, take whatever actions are necessary to assure immediate safety, including contacting local emergency responders and your international travel insurance provider.

When calling the International Emergency Phone Line, be prepared to provide the UWPD operator with as much of the following information as possible:

Your name

Return contact information

Country and program of study

Name(s) of persons involved

Description of emergency

Actions taken

Assistance needed

Emergency Contact Procedures

A full description of emergency contact procedures and additional resources are listed on the Office of Global Affairs website.